The goal is simple: Get new athletic shoes to kids experiencing homelessness. All 1.5 million of them in the U.S. Homelessness has long been a problem in the U.S., and the pandemic has made it worse. Communities of color are especially affected by the ongoing economic fallout, and a looming eviction crisis threatens millions more families. Why give shoes to kids without homes? - While many organizations are focused on the critical needs of food and shelter, school officials tell us shoes are essential for students to succeed in school. - Schools receive only $50 per student experiencing homelessness to facilitate enrollment, attendance, and success in school. With other critical needs, schools cant afford to buy shoes. - Without a good pair of shoes, kids feel embarrassed, discouraged, or left out simply because they lack something most of us take for granted.